Last Friday Gevaert Editions launched a new work by John Murphy, titled after a line from Shakespeare's The Tempest. The triptych includes an inkjet print with handwritten annotation, a bookwork and four minute film.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Last week the University of Iowa announced the launch of the The Fluxus Digital
Collection, an online archive of Fluxus works, many of which are Artists' Editions. The site features multiple views of classic Fluxkits such as Flux Snow by George Maciunas, Events and Games by Mieko Chiomi, Deck and Games and Puzzles by George Brecht, Flux Time Kit by Robert Watts, Instruction No.2 by Ben Patterson, Flux Dust by Robert Filliou and the Flux Year Box 2.

The archive also includes bookworks, drawings, objects, correspondence, sculptures, invitations and posters by John Cage, Dick Higgins, Ken Friedman, Yoko Ono, Joseph Beuys, Milan Knížák, Nam June Paik, Shigeko Kubota, James Riddle, Alison Knowles, Dieter Roth, Eric Andersen, Takehisa Kosugi, Ay-O and many others. These range from the well-known (Ben Vautier's Postman's Choice card) to works that I was not familiar with at all, such as American Flag Samurai Hood by George Maciunas (here).

The collection is not beholden to any (apparent) strict criteria, so in addition to Fluxus works, there are multiples published by Vice-Versand and Hundertmark Editions by artists not involved with the group, such as Andre Thompkins, Mauricio Kagel and Gaybor Altorjay.

The works are part of the University's Special Collections, and were donated by artist Ken Friedman, who noted: “Video pioneer Nam June Paik organized the first art exhibition on the World Wide Web in 1994. Since then, Fluxus artists and composers have had a durable presence of event scores, images, documents, web sites, exhibitions, publications, and more. Some vanished when links broke and web sites disappeared. Others continue to overcome the limits of fragile artifacts that museums preserve by protecting them from people. The Fluxus Digital Collection brings works back to life, returning them to the world where they belong with a future as lively as the past.”

In addition to well-documented editions, the site includes PDF downloads and a bibliography of publications about Fluxus. The press release also promises that the site will continue to grow, with more artworks, writings and correspondence to come.

Perhaps the most intriguing inclusions are the works (or objects) not attributed to an artist, but listed as 'unknown'. Examples of these items are pictured above.

Monday, April 20, 2015

A set of five letterpress on cairn board with silver block bookplates, published by Tenderbooks to coincide with their exhibition of bookworks by Bronson and General Idea (see below post). The design of a silver 7-pointed star borrows the insignia of A∴A∴, a secret spiritual organization founded by Aleister Crowley.

The bookplates are available to purchase for £15. Orders can be placed through mail@tenderbooks.co.uk.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

AA Bronson's contributions to artists' books and multiples can hardly be over-stated. He has been the director of both Printed Matter and Art Metropole, and founded the latter with the trio General Idea, in 1974. He has produced countless bookworks, multiples, editions and other publications, both with the collective (who were active from 1969 to 1994) and as a solo artist.

General Idea produced 26 issues of their legendary FILE Megazine between the years of 1972 and 1989. It is considered one of the most important artists' periodicals ever published. Bronson also founded and directed both the NY Art Book Fair (2005 to present) and the LA Art Book Fair (2013 to present).

A selection of book works by Bronson and General Idea is currently on display at Tenderbooks, at 6 Cecil Court, in London. Alongside monographs and artists' books are rare pamphlets and zines from Bronson's personal archives, with many available to read or purchase.

The exhibition runs from the 17th of April until Mary 23rd, and is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11 to 6pm. For more information, visit the website, here.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Timed to coincide with Record Store Day today, at the Baltic 39 Project Space in Newcastle is hosting an exhibition of work which explores the vinyl record. The Curves of the Needle explores album artwork, the engraved groove, and the cultural significance of the record collection.

Titled after an Adorno essay from 1929 (or the Field Music song that borrows its name), the show features work by Sam Belinfante, Ralf Brög, Rutherford Chang, Graham Dolphin, Rodney Graham, Bruce Haack, Jandek, Philip Jeck/Lol Sargent, Jim Lambie, Christian Marclay, Jonathan Monk, Elizabeth Price, Eliane Radigue, Sun Ra, Jonty Semper, David Toop, and many others.

The exhibition opened on April 3rd and culminates in an evening of events for The Late Shows on Saturday 16 May 2015. Details for related talks, events and performances programme can be found at baltic39.com

Or come see the work in person, at Pop Up Shop, a mini-exhibition and sale of work published by Bywater Bros., Nothing Else Press, Paul + Wendy Projects and Slow Editions that takes place this weekend at G Gallery.

Dedicated to Artists’ books, multiples, recordings, postcards, magazines and ephemera, this site will feature reviews of recent titles, features on artists and publishers, random listings of older works, the occasional longer essay or interview, straight-forward pictorials,links to recent news, etc. etc., in an attempt to create an aggregate of information on editioned artworks.

About Me

Dave Dyment is an artist, writer and curator based in Toronto, Canada. He is the co-editor of "One for Me and One to Share: Artists Multiples and Editions" (YYZ Books, 2012). His own work can be viewed at www.dave-dyment.com. He is represented by MKG127.